GRAMMAR
〜をはじめ
starting with
including
Explanation
NOTE
〜をはじめ means starting with X — it introduces the most representative example of a group, implying others follow.
田中さんをはじめ、多くの人が参加した。
Starting with Tanaka-san, many people participated.
Use this structure to mention a primary representative example, followed by others in the group. It emphasizes that the person or thing mentioned first is the most prominent or important one.
NOTE
It is often followed by など or a list of other items to reinforce the representative nature of X.
STRUCTURE
N辞
をはじめ日本語をはじめ、アジアの言語を勉強している。
Nihongo o hajime, Ajia no gengo o benkyō shite iru.
Starting with Japanese, I am studying Asian languages.
東京をはじめ、各地でイベントが開催された。
Tōkyō o hajime, kakuchi de ibento ga kaisai sareta.
Starting with Tokyo, events were held in various places.
社長をはじめ、全員が会議に出席した。
Shachō o hajime, zen'in ga kaigi ni shusseki shita.
Starting with the president, everyone attended the meeting.
Practice exercises
1
先生をはじめ生徒たちが応援してくれた。
Starting with the teacher, the students cheered for me.
Answer
をはじめ
2
英語をはじめ外国語を学ぶことが大切だ。
Starting with English, learning foreign languages is important.
Answer
をはじめ
3
京都をはじめ日本の観光地は美しい。
Starting with Kyoto, Japan's tourist spots are beautiful.
Answer
をはじめ
4
この店は、魚をはじめ料理が豊富だ。
This restaurant has a wide variety of dishes, starting with fish.
Answer
をはじめ
5
社長をはじめ全員が会議に出席した。
Starting with the president, everyone attended the meeting.
Answer
をはじめ
6
東京をはじめ各地でイベントが開催された。
Starting with Tokyo, events were held in various places.
Answer
をはじめ
7
この店は、魚をはじめ料理が豊富だ。
This restaurant has a wide variety of dishes, starting with fish.
Answer
をはじめ
8
田中さんをはじめ多くの人が来た。
Starting with Tanaka-san, many people came.
Answer
をはじめ
9
首相をはじめ各界の代表者が式典に招待された。
Starting with the Prime Minister, representatives from various sectors were invited to the ceremony.
Answer
をはじめ